Arthur Schneier, chief Rabbi of the Synagogue in New York: S...

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Arthur Schneier, chief Rabbi of the Synagogue in New York: Srebrenica reminds me of the Holocaust

“I arrived in Bosnia because the loss of 8000 lives something that touches me personally,” said Rabbi

Chief Rabbi of Park East Synagogue in New York Arthur Schneier, who will attend the 17th celebration anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, said today that he wants to express solidarity with the families of the victims and ordered them to understand their pain and anxiety, given that he himself survived the Holocaust.

“I arrived in Bosnia because the loss of 8000 lives something that touches me personally, because I survived the Holocaust and I know what it means. I feel the pain and anguish of those who lost their loved ones, because I am in the Holocaust and lost his family. Goal I was primarily to express solidarity with families and to promise that I will not be silent when it comes to any kind of injustice, “said Rabbi Schneier in an interview in Sarajevo for three BiH news agencies.

Recalling the horrors of the Holocaust, Rabbi Schneier, who is also president of the Foundation “Appeal of Conscience”, he said that after everything that happened could lose faith in humanity, to turn against God and be angry and resentful, but that it would not help future.

“We must not forget, we have to remember, but we must not be paralysed because of the horror that happened in the past. For our children and future generations, we must use our own life to build bridges of coexistence, especially in this era of globalization in which we are all interconnected. I often say that we or swim together or sink together, “said Rabbi Schneier.

When asked to comment on the situation the world when it comes to interreligious tolerance, said that religion in history that caused many wars and conflicts, but that is no longer the case.

“We are far from that, pushed, and responsible religious leaders now realize that they must be part of the solution and not become a problem,” the rabbi, recalling that he always believed that “the conflict in former Yugoslavia was the result of nationalist ambitions, not religious conflict, although it could become. “

“There’s nothing worse than a religious conflict, and, fortunately, the war in former Yugoslavia is not turned on him,” said Rabbi Schneier, and stressed that religious leaders today have the opportunity for interreligious dialogue, although there are extremists and nationalists who do not believe in coexistence.

“All that we have a sense of responsibility for the future of this world we must do everything that our approach overcomes extremism and radicalism,” he said.

In response to the reporters that during the war in Bosnia were those religious leaders who instigated conflicts Rabbi Schneier said that one should not generalize, because there were some who did, but those who were brave and did not follow suit.

He stated that religious leaders responsible caring human rights, justice and all that will make good citizens and that can contribute to reconciliation among peoples so as to be open to each other and build bridges.

However, he warned that the reconciliation cannot occur if they avoided the historical truth and facts.

“People must face the reality … If someone says to me that the Holocaust did not happen I’ll tell him to stop talking, because I experienced the Holocaust, it has lost family and saw the brutality,” he said, adding that it is very important to all who have experienced the tragedy of genocide testify about what they experienced.

Rabbi Arthur Schneier will talk on 11th July in Srebrenica, marking the 17th anniversary of the genocide against Bosniaks.

During this year’s commemoration over 500 Srebrenica victims will be buried at the Potocari cemetery where 5,137 others have already been laid to rest during previous ceremonies.